Revision of Assignment 3

Few artistic works are recognized worldwide like Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. It is an iconic painting that captures the emotions of all who observe it. Created by Van Gogh in 1889, this painting inspired a new style of artistic representation and fully embodied the post-impressionism style of art.

When first glancing at this painting, the denotative meaning of it is a starry night sky. The audience immediately sees a sky of whirling clouds, shining stars, and a bright crescent moon. The colors are visually appealing; the texture of the painting and the contrast of colors help captivate the eye. The swirling sky directs the viewer around the painting, creating a sense of fluidity. Once you look past the literal representation of the painting, this stylized depiction is meant to convey Van Gogh’s deepest thoughts and emotion. The connotative meaning of it depicts the unstable mentality Van Gogh was in when Starry Night was created. The dark colors contrasted with the brightly lit windows emphasis the opposing states of his mentality. It is widely speculated that Van Gogh was bipolar; he would constantly switch between violent rages to more subdued states of mind. In fact, he was quoted saying “it is good for me to work hard. But that does not keep me from having a terrible need of—shall I say the word—yes, of religion. Then I go out at night to paint the stars.” Van Gogh threw himself into his paintings to help cope with the constant battle of his mind. Starry Night represents his ongoing struggle with overcoming his mental illness. The haunting night sky was his way of immortalizing his constant hallucinations onto a canvas for all time.


This painting is iconic. Not only is it one of Vincent Van Gogh’s most renowned works but it is extremely valuable as well, giving it important cultural value. The artistic style of it is original Van Gogh; it is widely accepted that this painting helped end the era of Impressionism and was one of the first Post-Impressionism paintings. It also greatly influenced Expressionism and Fauvism styles of art. Due to the immense popularity of it, it is widely reproduced. When I was a younger, I remember going to an art museum with my family and purchasing a copy of this image at the end of the tour. The emotions pouring out from it captivated me. The value of this image is increased by its availability for popular consumption.
 

Not only is Starry Night an iconic painting, but it has a deeper meaning of overcoming emotional struggle. Individuals from all cultures and backgrounds can come together and feel the passion and struggle evoked in this image. Van Gogh created something that is universal and will stand the test of time.